Fuel Subsidy: NLC, TUC Commence Strike Jan 11

Barring last minute reversal of the Federal Government decision to remove subsidy on fuel, the organised labour has fixed January 11 for the commencement of a nationwide strike.

Similarly, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday declined comments on the controversy trailing Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy,  saying its  position on the issue was made known to the government a long time ago  during the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

However, reports said some labour leaders have vowed not to enter into form of negotiation with the Belgore-led committee set up by Federal Government to dialogue with labour with a view to resolving issues related to the removal of fuel subsidy.

THISDAY  gathered that leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), who had fixed the strike for January 11 would meet today to set out the methodology of the mass action.
A labour leader who disclosed the take off date for the strike to THISDAY said the strike will not be suspended for any reason except government rescind its decision on fuel subsidy.

The labour leader explained that the decision to hold the strike next week was taken in order to plan properly for the mass action as well as give Nigerians enough time to stock their houses with food items that would last them for a long period.

The activist, who described the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan to set up a committee on subsidy as “Medicine after death”, said labour would boycott any meeting with the Belgore Committee until government revert back to status quo.

Meanwhile, National Publicity Secretary of ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani, said the forum had earlier asked President Jonathan to use the outcome of his consultation and probe by the National Assembly to arrive at an informed decision on the matter.

“ACF made its position on subsidy known way back under President Yar'Adua that it would be better to make the nation's four refineries functional as a way of discouraging importation of refined products which broughtabout the subsidy and outsourcing of employment.

“And when President Jonathan decided to bring back the matter to the table for discussions with stakeholders, the National Assembly decided to probe the saga.” ACF advised government to use the outcomes of the consultations and the probe by lawmakers to arrive at informed decision.  “Whether that is what actually happened I cannot tell,” Sani said in a text message when he was asked for the reaction of the forum on the removal of subsidy on fuel.

By Linda Eroke   and John Shiklam
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/fuel-subsidy-nlc-tuc-commence-strike-jan-11/106417/